The Rex Cinema

From the popular to the obscure, The Rex's film programme is varied and highlights its uniqueness: in terms of decor (decadent art deco) and temperament (no popcorn, reasonably priced tickets).

Opened in 1938, the first film shown was Shirley Temple's Heidi, and the venue suffered from the peaks and troughs of cinema's popularity, closing in 1988 before reopening in 2004. For a period during the 1970s, the second room was used as a bingo hall and often the calling of the numbers could be heard at the same time as the film being screened.

The cinema now endevours to show a different film each day and sells out regularly. The ambiance is one of relaxation and comfort – with no cliched cinema food (stale popcorn or flaccid hotdogs) – and encourages visitors to dress up in their Sunday best.